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Uncle Sam to the Rescue 


OR 

Saving Santa’s Job 


A PATRIOTIC CHRISTMAS PLAY 
FOR CHILDREN 


BYl 

MARGIE A, JERAULD 

^ * i< ■ 



FILLMORE MUSIC HOUSE 

528 Elm Street, Cincinnati, O. 


Copyright, 1917, by The Fillmore Bros. Co. 



CHARACTERS. 


Santa Claus ....:. ........ 

Mrs. Santa Claus. 

War... 

C Hunger 

War’s followers. ) Pestilence 

Deatli 

( Belgium 

Poor children of four na- ) France 

tions M war. / England 

( Germany 

Uncle Sam... 

Liberty Girls_. ■..v... 

Boy Scouts... 

Peace. 


.Boy 

.Girl 

.Large boy or man 

_.Three tall, thin girls 

Four little girls, or two boys 
and two girds 

.Boy or man 

.. .Four little girls 

.-..Any number 

. Girl 


Scene — Large, roomy stage. 


COSTUMES. 


Santa Claus, usual outfit. 

Mrs. Santa Claus, dressed matronly.. 

VVar, suit form-fitting, revealing large, burly frame; padding for 
arms, legs and body may be used. Armor will add much to this 
characterization, especially large sword and helmet. 

Hunger, long, plain, gray dress, hair drawn tight. 

Pestilence, long, plain, black dress, hair disheveled. 

Death, long white dress; skull false face may be used. 

Poor children of nations at war, ragged costumes of nations they 
represent. 

Uncle Sam, usual outfit 


Liberty Girls, Goddess of Liberty outfit, or crown of stars and 
stripes, with band over shoulder and sashes of same. 

Boy Scouts, Scout outfit. 


Peace (blond), 
branch. 


all in white, carrying branch, representing olive 

/ 

©CI.D 48255 


NOV -5 1917 














UNCLE SAM TO THE RESCUE 


Scene; — Curtain rises, revealing Santa Claus sitting asleep in a 
large armchair, near one end of stage. Mrs. Santa bustles in, shakes 
him, and says: 

Mrs. Santa —Come, come, Santa, wake up. There is so 
much to do. Have you forgotten Christmas is so near? I 
hated to waken you, but you have had a good, long nap by 
this time. 

(Santa opens his eyes, stretches and yawns.) 

Santa —Well, well, well, so-1 was asleep. I thought sure 
that dream was real. It was such a good one. I wish it 
had been. 

(Santa rises, stretches again, rams his hands deep in pockets, 
walks up and down stage as he further muses. Mrs. Santa slips into 
his chair and listens.) 

Santa —My, I hope when I start out on Christmas Eve 
everything will go as nicely as it did in that dream. I could 
just see myself hanging presents on Christmas trees, filling 
stockings, climbing up and down chimneys, cracking my 
whip, and skimming over the snow with my reindeer and 
sled. I— 

(The noise of heavy footsteps is heard. Santa turns and faces 
the stage entrance opposite, and backs toward chair as steps draw 
nearer. Mrs. Santa pulls him down upon arm of chair and grabs his 
arm in fright. Both face entrance as War stalks in, followed by 


4 


UNCUE SAM TO THE RESCUE. 


"V 

Hunger, Pestilence and Death. These three stand in a row toward 
rear of stage, giving War the front. He laughs a loud, coarse laugh 
as he enters.) 

War —Ha, ha, ha. That dream will never come true. 
At least not for very many children this year. I (pointing 
to self) won’t let it. See? Who am I?. / (boastfully), / 
am War , Air. Santa (bowing). Let me introduce myself, 
and these (with sweep of sword toward three at rear of 
stage), Hunger, Pestilence and Death, my faithful follow¬ 
ers. We are getting rid of children, Mr. Santa, as fast as 
we can. You’ll be out of a job if we can just have our way. 
Ha, ha, ha. No need then for toys, Christmas trees, pres¬ 
ents and such. Come, Hunger (turning to the three and 
motioning Hunger to advance), tell ’em how we do it. 

(Hunger steps to the front and repeats slowly:) 

Hunger — 

I am Hunger, gaunt and thin; 

Children wail and cry, 

Mothers pale when I stalk in, 

Babies droop and die. 

War —Ha, ha, ha. That’s one way. Come, Pestilence 
(motioning Pestilence forward, who takes her place beside 
Hunger), tell us how you work it. 

Pestilence — 

I am Pestilence. Disease 
Everywhere I spread. 

War’s demands I must appease, 

Help to swell the dead. 


UNCEE SAM TO THE RESCUE. 


5 


War —Now, Death (motioning Death to place beside 
Pestilence), you put on the finishing touch. Ha, ha, ha. 

Death — 

l am Death. I stretch afar 
Thin and bony hands; 

Reaping, with the aid of War, 

Lives from many lands. 

(The three then take hold of hands, place right foot out, bend 
slightly forward, and speak in awed but distinct tones.) 

The Three — 

War’s dark shadows then are we, 

Follow in his wake; 

Preying on humanity, 

(Slowly and impressively:) 

What he leaves we take . 

(The three retire to back of stage.) 

War —Now, Mr. Santa, you see what is to< become of 
Christmas. There’ll be none for about four-fifths of the 
world this year. Children hungry, sick, dying. Mothers the 
same. Fathers at the front. What do they want of pres¬ 
ents, trees, candy, etc. ? They are thinking about me. Ha, 
ha, ha. They have forgotten you. They don’t ever expect 
to see you again. We just came to warn you not to start 
over there. A bomb might hit your sled. Ha, ha, ha. 
(Sneeringly.) That silly, old idea of Christmas. Most 
foolish custom ever gotten up. Founded on love and peace. 


6 


UNCIv£ SAM TO THE} RESCUE}. 


Where are love and peace nowadays? Ha, ha, ha. I got 
’em both on the run. 

(Mrs. Santa begins to cry. Santa rises from chair arm and 
ispeaks slowly and sadly:) 

Santa *—It can’t be true. I can not believe you, sir. No 
children, no Christmas, no love, no peace. Oh (anxiously), 
there must be some children left over there! 

War —Ha, ha, ha. Yes, yes, there’s some left. But you 
ought to see them. (Turning to Hunger, Pestilence and 
Death.) Guess we better go get a few specimens and let 
him see what we have done for them. I think that will con¬ 
vince him they are not in Christmas trim. (To Santa.) 
We will return, sir, and bring the proofs. Ha, ha, ha. 
Until then—adieu. 

(Bows, walks heavily off stage, followed by Hunger, Pestilence 
and Death. Mrs. Santa sobs aloud, Santa walks up and down with 
bowed head.) 

Santa —War, Hunger, Pestilence, Death. No children, 
no love, no peace, no Christmas. 

(Here Mrs. Santa sits up straight,.wipes her eyes with a jerk, 
speaking emphatically.) 

Mrs. Santa —There will be Christmas over there, too, I 
don’t care what that old brute says, and you shall make 
those children happy after all. It must— 

(Santa interrupts in surprise.) 


uncle: sam to thl rescue:. 


7 


Santa —But how? What can I do against War, that 
terrible— 

(Mrs. Santa rises, interrupts, talking excitedly.) 

Mrs. Santa —I’ll tell you what. Call up Uncle Sam and 
have him come up right away. We must act quick before 
War returns. Uncle Sam can help us, I know he can. 
We’ll tell him all about it. 'Now gO' and do that right away, 
and I will go and get something good and warm to eat. I’ll 
have it ready when Uncle Sam gets here. He’ll be hungry if 
he comes in his airship. Flying gives one such an appetite, 
they say. 

(She bustles off the stage. Santa walks up and down several 
times, stroking his beard, apparently in deep thought.) 

Santa —Uncle Sam, Uncle Sam. Yes, he might be able. 
He always stands for right, justice, peace, and I know he 
loves the children. Guess I’ll call him. It won’t do any 
harm. (Exit.) 

(Here curtain may go down.) 


8 


uncle: SAM To tkl re:scul. 


SCENE TWO 

9 

(Curtain rises, showing four thin, ragged children, representing 
Belgium, France, England and Germany, standing dejectedly, with 
heads bowed, in center of stage. Mr. and Mrs. Santa on one side; 
Mrs. Santa wiping her eyes and Santa sadly stroking his beard as 
they look at them. On opposite side stalks War, behind him stand 
Hunger, Pestilence and Death.) 

War —Look at them; they don’t look like there was any 
Christmas in store for them, do they ? Ha, ha, ha. And 
these only represent the children of four countries I have 
in my grip, Belgium, France, England, Germany (touches 
the bowed head of each with his sword as he names them). 
That’s not all, by any means. Ha, ha, ha. Got plenty more 
of ’em in as many more countries. But this is enough to 
warn you to stay at home this year, old man. (Shaking 
sword at Santa.) 

(Uncle Sam suddenly steps upon stage from behind Mr. and Mrs. 
Santa. He is followed by four Liberty Girls, each carrying separate 
gifts of food, money, clothing and toys. The four ragged children 
turn, raise their heads, kneel, and stretch out their hands imploringly 
toward Uncle Sam. War steps back as though struck and covers 
face with arm. Hunger, Pestilence and Death cower behind him as 
Uncle Sam speaks loudly and forcibly.) 

Uncle Sam —No, he shall never stay at home, not this 
year, nor any year. Arise, my children (tenderly to kneel¬ 
ing ones). You shall have your Christmas. This, your dear 
old friend (pointing to Santa), shall visit you again, and 
yet again. Your brothers and sisters in America shall help 
to load his sleigh. In it shall be such gifts as these (mo¬ 
tioning to Liberty Girls, who advance and each gives a poor 


uncle: SAM TO THL RESCUE}. 


9 

child her gift). These, my children, are glad and anxious 
to help you. 

(The Liberty Girls then take places beside four ragged children 
and all face toward front. Uncle Sam then points his finger at War 
and speaks sternly.) 

Uncle Sam — 

Begone, thou hated monster. Go, 

And take thy cruel band; 

And never hurl thy boasting threats 
At those who firmly stand 

Beneath a banner tried and true, 

That shall forever vanquish you. 

(Slight pause.) 

It is, “Our Own Red, White and Blue.” 

\ 

(Pulls flag from pocket, shakes out and waves. Here music of 
song, “Our Own Red, White and Blue,” may be played. We suggest 
this new patriotic march song, published by the Fillmore Music 
House, but if this is not available any other favorite, patriotic song 
may be used. If desirable, other patriotic songs may be used in con¬ 
nection with the program. An orderly steps on stage, dressed in 
Boy Scout uniform, representing United States soldier. He hands 
Uncle Sam a bugle. Uncle Sam blows the signal, and onto the stage 
march as many Boy Scouts as stage will accommodate. Mr. and 
Mrs. Santa, the four ragged children and Liberty Girls step back to 
rear of stage. The Scouts advance across stage to the music.. As 
they approach, Hunger, Pestilence and Death turn and run from 
.stage, and War backs after them. The Scouts turn and, if possible, 
drill. When they halt, the words of the song, “Our Own Red, White 
and Blue,” may be sung by one or more or all the Scouts.) 

Song, “Our Own Red, White and Blue.” 

(At close of song, Scouts divide to either side of stage and let 
Mr. and Mrs. Santa, four ragged children and four Liberty Girls 


10 


UNCLE) SAM TO the: rescue. 


advance to front of stage. They form a line across front of stage, 
with Mr. and Mrs. Santa at one end, and Uncle Sam at the other. 
The Scouts fall in behind. Here Peace flits in, advances to the front 
of platform.) 

Peace — 

All hail! all hail! kind friends and true, 

As Peace I now appear, 

And welcome to the earth once more 
The Christmas of the‘year. 

So long I’ve waited, watched and prayed 
That war might ever cease, 

That stricken homes and hearts might know 
The benefits of peace. 

(Facing and addressing Uncle Sam:'' 

And now, dear Uncle Sam, to you 
The little children pray; 

May God help you to meet their needs, 

And save their Christmas Day. 

(Peace then steps to place in center of line between four ragged 
children and four Liberty Girls and joins hands. The curtain drops 
to patriotic music.) 


(The; End.) 







A 








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FILLMORE MUSIC HOUSE 

528 Elm Street, Cincinnati, O. 











